Avianca’s LifeMiles programme has just unveiled a promotion that deserves the attention of savvy Australian travellers. With a bonus of up to 200% on purchased miles, this offer presents a significant opportunity for those looking to maximise value on premium cabin bookings, particularly for long-haul flights.
This promotion, running until 30 September 2024, allows members to acquire LifeMiles at a rate as low as 1.1 US cents per mile. For travellers familiar with the strategic use of airline miles, this represents a potential gateway to substantial savings on business and first-class travel.
In this post:
What is LifeMiles and Why Should Australian Travellers Care?
LifeMiles is the loyalty programme of Avianca, Colombia’s flag carrier. Despite Avianca having no presence in Australia, LifeMiles has become a valuable tool for savvy travellers worldwide, especially those who enjoy flying Business and First Class with Star Alliance partners like Singapore Airlines, ANA, and United.
Key benefits for Australian travellers:
- Access to Star Alliance award inventory (over 25 partner airlines)
- No fuel surcharges on award tickets
- Competitive redemption rates, especially for premium cabins
- Frequent promotions on purchased miles
The Current Promotion
From now until 11:59pm on 30 September 2024 [GMT-6], LifeMiles is offering a tiered bonus structure on purchased miles:
- Buy 1,000 miles, get a 120% bonus
- Buy 2,000-20,000 miles, get a 140% bonus
- Buy 21,000-40,000 miles, get a 160% bonus
- Buy 41,000-200,000 miles, get a 200% bonus
Important Note: This promotion is targeted, so different members may see different offers. Some might see a lesser bonus, such as 150%, or no bonus at all. It’s crucial to check your account for your specific deal.
LifeMiles Promotion History
| Promotion Details | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 200% bonus | 24/09/2024 | 30/09/2024 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 160% bonus | 22/08/2024 | 19/09/2024 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 160% bonus | 19/07/2024 | 15/08/2024 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 155% bonus | 12/06/2024 | 11/07/2024 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 160% bonus | 02/05/2024 | 31/05/2024 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 170% bonus | 26/03/2024 | 09/04/2024 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 165% bonus | 27/02/2024 | 12/03/2024 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 170% bonus | 23/01/2024 | 27/01/2024 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 175% bonus | 14/12/2023 | 31/12/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 165% bonus | 21/11/2023 | 05/12/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 160% bonus | 07/11/2023 | 14/11/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 140% bonus | 10/10/2023 | 26/10/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 140% bonus | 12/09/2023 | 27/09/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 145% bonus | 16/08/2023 | 30/08/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 150% bonus | 11/07/2023 | 28/07/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 160% bonus | 13/06/2023 | 30/06/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 165% bonus | 16/05/2023 | 30/05/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 155% bonus | 18/04/2023 | 26/04/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 160% bonus | 14/03/2023 | 29/03/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 165% bonus | 09/02/2023 | 22/02/2023 |
| Purchase LifeMiles with a 165% bonus | 17/01/2023 | 27/01/2023 |
Sweet Spots for Australian Travellers
LifeMiles offers some particularly attractive redemption rates for routes relevant to Australian travellers:
- Australia to North Asia (e.g., Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, China):
- Business Class: 40,000 miles one-way
- First Class: 50,000 miles one-way
- Australia to South Asia (e.g., Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia):
- Business Class: 40,000 miles one-way
- First Class: 60,000 miles one-way
- Australia to Europe:
- Business Class: 85,000 miles one-way
- First Class: 115,000 miles one-way
- Australia to the United States:
- Business Class: 80,000 miles one-way
- First Class: 111,000 miles one-way
Real-World Example
Let’s consider a Perth to Tokyo return flight in Business Class:
- Miles needed: 80,000 LifeMiles (40,000 each way)
- Taxes and fees: Approximately USD$135
- Cost to buy miles at 1.1 cents each: USD$880
- Total cost: Approximately USD$1,015 (about AUD$1,470)
Compare this to cash fares which can often exceed AUD$4,000 for the same route in business class. That’s a potential saving of over 63%!
Things to Keep in Mind
- Award Availability: Always check for award seats before purchasing miles.
- Expiration: LifeMiles expire after 12 months of inactivity. Any earning activity, including buying miles, resets the clock.
- Maximum Purchase: You can buy up to 200,000 miles per account per calendar year before bonuses.
- Booking Fees: There’s a USD$25 redemption fee when booking online (recommended) or USD$85 over the phone.
- Customer Service: As LifeMiles is based in Colombia, getting English-language support can sometimes be challenging. The US customer service line (+1 800 284 2622) is recommended for Australian travellers.
- Programme Quirks: The LifeMiles award chart has some peculiarities. For example, it can sometimes be cheaper to fly to North Asia than to South Asia from Australia, despite the longer distance.
How to Join LifeMiles
Joining LifeMiles is free and can be done easily online:
- Visit the LifeMiles enrolment page
- Enter your email and create a password
- Provide personal details (including a driver’s licence or passport number)
- Accept the terms and conditions
Is It Worth It?
For Australian travellers looking to book premium cabin awards, especially to Asia, Europe, or North America, this promotion can offer excellent value. LifeMiles is particularly well-suited for Australia-Asia rewards, given the reasonable mileage requirements and low taxes.
However, it’s crucial to have a specific use in mind before purchasing. While these miles are a great deal at this price, they’re not an investment – they’re a tool to be used for fantastic travel experiences. We recommend researching availability using tools like Seats Aero which will quickly show you availability using the United Airlines program which closely correlates from our experience.
LifeMiles: Summing Up
This LifeMiles promotion represents a significant opportunity for Australian travellers to access premium travel experiences at a fraction of the usual cost. While the programme does have its quirks and potential challenges, the savings potential makes it worth considering for those comfortable with more advanced points strategies.
Remember, only buy what you need and can use within 12 months. As always, do your research, check award availability, and crunch the numbers for your specific travel plans before jumping in.
Happy travels, and may your next premium cabin experience be just a LifeMiles purchase away!
